A Year of Service and Gratitude

Dear Fellow Rotarians,

As I pen my final newsletter as your club president, I am filled with immense gratitude and pride for all that we have accomplished together over the past year. It has been an honor to serve alongside such dedicated and passionate individuals, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have led our club during this remarkable journey.

Throughout the past 12 months, our club has achieved significant milestones and made a lasting impact in our community and beyond. Click here to access a few highlights from our year together.

Inspiring Hope and Service to Others

Throughout this year, our theme of inspiring hope and service to others has been at the forefront of all our activities. Each project, event, and initiative has been driven by our collective desire to make a positive difference and uplift those around us. We have seen firsthand how acts of service, no matter how small, can inspire hope and bring about meaningful change.

New Rotarians

This past year, we welcomed into our club new members who have joined our Rotary family, including Barry Bronson, Hemamalini Raja, Rupal Gandhi, Colleen Martell, Bryan Swanson, Mary Wang, Supriya Krishnamoorthy, and Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza (Blue Badger). Mona Hrapkowicz, Sandy Wu are scheduled to be inducted in June. We are excited about the fresh perspectives, energy, and dedication they bring to our club.

Welcome aboard!

In Memoriam

In reflecting on the journey of service and hope, it's also important to remember and honor the Rotarians who have passed away this year. We mourn the loss of beloved members Sesh Ramaswami and Roger Austin, who were pillars of our community and exemplified Rotary's values of service, fellowship, and ethical leadership. Their dedication to making a positive difference in the world will be deeply missed, but their legacy of kindness and generosity will continue to inspire us as we carry forward their spirit of service above self. In their memory, let us recommit ourselves to the ideals of Rotary International, striving to uphold their legacy through our continued efforts to create lasting change and foster goodwill in our communities and beyond.

Looking Ahead

As I transition out of the role of president, I am excited to support our incoming president, Chuck Swan, in the coming year. Chuck brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to Rotary’s values. I have no doubt that under his leadership, our club will continue to thrive and make a positive impact.

A Heartfelt Thank You

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to each of you for your unwavering support, patience, dedication, and enthusiasm. Your contributions have made this year memorable and successful. Serving as your president has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I look forward to continuing to serve our community and club in the years to come.

Together, we have demonstrated the true meaning of "Service Above Self." Let us carry this spirit forward as we embark on new projects and initiatives, always striving to make a difference in the lives of others.

Here's to a bright future for the best Rotary Club in the world...Saratoga Rotary Club!

Yours in Rotary,

Renée Kazemipour Paquier, Ed.D

President, Saratoga Rotary Club 2023/2024

**Upcoming Events**

- **June 7th**: Celebrating 50 years of Service: Gene Zambetti and Ernie Kraule!

- **June 23rd**: Debunking

And here is a recap of the past year  -  "Reflecting on a Year of Achievements": 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CD6sEghgFuWknJ3ArDQNqikS4bgV2oQ_Nv0F_LA3P6E/edit?usp=sharing